Fun Dusky Wrasse Facts For Kids

Are you looking for other tank mates from the genus Halichoeres or surfing for the beautiful fish within the aquarium trade? Dusky wrasse is another peaceful fish from the family of Labridae. The bright green crescent over its caudal fin attracts the audience. It is advised to store in well-established saltwater tanks with a minimum of 75 gal (284 l) storage capacity, tight lid, and sand bed up to the depth of 2-3 in (5-8 cm). It is said to be a great swimming marine creature and an excellent jumper.

There are variations in coloration because of age, sex, and fish size. It is found in pretty rainbow or peacock coloration with shades of yellow, blue, green, orange, black, and brown. Juveniles and females are found in mute colors such as brown and black.

The fish with the name Halichoeres marginatus is known to bury itself in the rock, reef, and coral beds naturally and sand bed in the tank while they sleep or detect any sort of threat. They have a diet of feeding on various invertebrates and sometimes parasites.

If the uniqueness of dusky wrasse makes you interested to read more about similar species, you can read about these wrasse facts and humphead wrasse facts for more.

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What type of animal is a dusky wrasse?

The dusky wrasse is a saltwater fish found in various colors, which justifies it being called splendid rainbow wrasse.

What class of animal does a dusky wrasse belong to?

A dusky wrasse belongs to the Actinopterygii, a ray-finned fish class of amphibians. It is a species from the family Labridae.

How many dusky wrasses are there in the world?

The total number of species of dusky wrasse of the genus Halichoeres is yet not computed. Though, there are around 500 species of wrasses recorded around the globe.

Where does a dusky wrasse live?

The dusky wrasse is found majorly in the Indo-Pacific region around Mozambique from the Red Sea to Inhaca Islands, around Japan. They are also petted in a tank and aquarium with a substrate of around the depth of 3 in (7.5 cm).

What is a dusky wrasse's habitat?

A dusky wrasse is known to be found in seaward-reef and coral-rich lagoons up to the depth of 98 ft (30 m). It is found in a cold-warn environment with temperatures of around 73-81 F (23-27 C).

Who do dusky wrasses live with?

Dusky wrasses are peaceful in a community-type set up in shoals of two or many more Halichoeres marginatus. They get along with one another as they are not usually aggressive. They are known to prey on small passive fish, such as flasher wrasses.

How long does a dusky wrasse live?

There is no such scientific research report stating the life span of a dusky wrasse. Since dusky wrasse belongs to the family Labridae, wrasses are assumed to live for around 3-30 years.

How do they reproduce?

This species of fish are hermaphroditic as they are capable of changing their sex. Moreover, they are pelagic spawners. While males establish spawning territories, females migrate to spawning sites to lay their eggs. On the other hand, some females change their sex post-spawning. Females give birth to juvenile species of dusky wrasse.

What is their conservation status?

According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened species, dusky wrasse of the genus Halichoeres are known to fall under the category of Least Concern.

What does a dusky wrasse look like?

There is differentiation in the appearance of the splendid rainbow wrasse in regards to its sex. While the male dusky wrasse adopts peacock coloration with a narrow blue striped pattern with rows of blue spots on the side and bright green crescent on the caudal fin, females and juveniles have the mute coloration of brown-black shades.

How cute are they?

Dusky wrasses are an adorable-looking species. You may or may not find them cute, but they are sure to make you fall for their beauty and unique appearance of rainbow coloration. The shades of yellow, orange, green, and blue are sure to make you go crazy for them. Splendid rainbow wrasse stands out from other marine creatures with the various pattern on their body and especially the bright green crescent on its caudal fin.

How do they communicate?

There is no scientific information reflecting the communication method used by dusky wrasses. It is not fully known how they communicate. According to studies, fish, in general, communicate via gestures and motions. It is also noted that some fish communicate via electric impulses, while others have the ability to make sounds such as catfish. On the other hand, wrasses in common are known to communicate via body language by moving sideways and tilting their fins.

How big is a dusky wrasse?

A dusky wrasse of the genus Halichoeres is much smaller than many wrasses such as rockmover wrasse. It is at a maximum of 7 in (18 cm) in length.

How fast can a dusky wrasse run?

The speed of a dusty wrasse is still a piece of undiscovered information. It is said to have a considerable swimming speed as it requires a considerable size of an aquarium, with a minimum tank size carrying 75 gal (284 l) of water and a considerable depth.  

How much does a dusky wrasse weigh?

With the max size of 7 in (18 cm) and considering its diet, a dusky wrasse is known to be neither a heavy weighted nor light-weighted fish. Though there is no specific information regarding its weight, there are many assumptions considering what it eats. Adult male dusky wrasse, adult female dusky wrasse, and juvenile are said to have variance in their weights accordingly.

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no different names assigned to male and female species of dusky wrasse. They are in common known as either dusky wrasse, Halichoeres marginatus, splendid rainbow wrasse, or two-eyed wrasse.

What would you call a baby dusky wrasse?

A baby dusky wrasse in layman terms is referred to as a juvenile but does not have a scientific name recorded.

What do they eat?

Halichoeres marginatus is known to feed on a diet consisting of pyramid snails, shrimp, krill, brine shrimp, prawns, crabs, flatworms, tubeworms, and small-little fish.

Are they dangerous?

A dusky wrasse is a peaceful species. They are just harmful to snails, shrimp, small marine creatures, and other prey they feed on. They are not harmful to humans.

Would they make a good pet?

A dusky wrasse is an adorable fish to keep in the home aquarium. The adult male dusky wrasse is a true peacock with green, blue, orange, yellow, brown coloration to be petted to enhance the beauty of the aquarium. You must keep in mind to provide a sand substrate of about 3 in (7.5 cm) with corals over the surface. They are reef and coral safe. Also, a large well-established tank with plenty of tank mates such as copepods, and zooplankton are preferred.

Did you know...

Females and juveniles lack the peacock coloration and have variations in comparison to the male. A dusky wrasse has variations in its coloration which make the task of identification even challenging. They are found in various colors ranging from muted colors such as black and brown to bright colors such as yellow, green, orange, and blue.

These fish bury themselves in substrate full of rock and sand when they fear threat or while they sleep.

They are pretty good jumpers. Wrasse are known for peaceful behavior rather than being aggressive. There are hardly any records reflecting its aggressive behavior against another species. Though wrasses live on a carnivorous diet, they are known to prey on other species like invertebrates such as bristle-worm, fan-worm, snails, shrimp, red rock crab, and urchin. A dusky wrasse is known to be aggressive towards members of the same species.

Dusky wrasse is reef safe but with quite some cautions. The dusky wrasse is also safe with corals, but a threat to shrimp, snails. This reflects that they do an excellent job protecting corals.

It is not commonly recorded in the aquarium trade but is a wanted pet due to its unique appearance with colorful fin.

Is dusky wrasse endemic?

Dusky wrasse is not reported endemic. Though their native habitat remains confined to the Indo-Pacific region, it is transported throughout the globe.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these Pacific salmon facts and longhorn cowfish facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Dusky wrasse coloring pages.